Closure structure



May 27, 1930. J. s. REID cLosURE STRUCTURE Filed March 12, ,19,28

1 `tion" is to provide a closure ofthis kind which Patented May 27, 1930UNITED STATES k-1 ,.if1fE.-1fwr ,OFFICE f `JAMES; s. REInbFcLEvELANn,OHIO, `ASSIeNoR,BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To `THE "&` SPRING COMPANY, v]?CLEVELAND, `OIIIO,v A CORPORATION 0F y ,fcLosUnE STRUCTURE.Applicationniermann `12, i928. Serial` no. :261,060.

` This" invention relates to detachable closures, such as are usedfonthesplash pans of automobiles to cover the openinglto the starting shaft,andin otherplaces, such-as for closing openings in walls,rfurniture etc.

The particular objectfof the present invenis relatively thin and can` beaccommodated to small `number of parts.

a place where space is limited, and one in which the closure may be ofrelatively large size,` suitably ornamented and embodying a g ,y Inthedrawings, `which represent one `suitlustrates` anelevation ofthe deviceapplied to ""Fig. 4 isa similar View of the closure, the

i ,7 isya fdetai'lgjsectional :view on `themline `747, FigJQ,illustrating a lockingtongue;` andFig is a detailsectional 4view showingianother tongue` on the line 8;8, Fig, `5.

" "llhefclosure Icomprises two members or seotionbeing taken on thedline4.-,4, Fig. 5; H i "jjFigl "5, is-a rear elevation ofthe closure; Fig.

` `"on appronimatelythe line (5f-"6, Fig. 4, and

GfiS-a sectional., elevation, on a larger Scale,

showing the l,:losure applied to .a splash'pan.

` partsA, B,"`shown respectively" in Figs.` 3

.andfi, the memberorpart A having an openingC tobe closed', andwhichpartmay be frattachedto or Vform :a part of anysuitable de-` viceto be closed,su"ch as aftanlr, recelpmacle,`

` .wallor `the like. In the drawings, the member A is suitably`attached, preferably perma- Qn-intly-,` to the splash panD of an'automobile andthe opening G is theone throughwhich the" Starting crankis inserted. Said mein` berto be closed,j`i`n thisinstance, is fastened@tothejront ,or` exposed surface of thesplash i45,pamfbeoailseusuallythespacebehind 'it is limited. Y It is therefore Adesirable that any.partastened,tothe exposed "face have as ,l little projection aspossible, and that includes i thelesur tselfl As .showinthe1frriellflmbler` A) i 5'@ ,albe @loses pagename .emmener with avperipheral liange 1 which may be riveted, soldered, spotweldedorotherwise inwardly extending flangeQ the end edges 3 of which meet andabut the lower edge of the splash pan, as inFig. 3, and assist, inlocating `the device thereon. Inwardly of said flange is an annular beador raised portion 4 within which the central body portion 5 is `dat andis provided with the opening() referred to. i

LSaid opening may be central,but is shown as off-center. In thesurrounding area member A is providedwith the necessary means forcooperative locking relation with the closure,

shown ,as aseries of tongues punched or` e raised out of the bodymetaland slitted Lor separated therefromalong two edges, at 6a, the remainderof each tongue being merely raised or pressedout ofthe metal butremainprrsecured to the splash pan and interrupted .andbent inwardly atone point to Jform an ing attachedthereto; Viewing one of said tonguesfrom the center of the plate, as in Fig. V7, it may be slightly'swelledor raised back of the entrance, as at 6b, toform aseat to re- "ceive andhold the cooperating` locking linger `on the closure, as will appear.

The closure memberB is alsorelatively thin.` It comprisesagenerally"circularbody member lOwhich may be made of sheet metal `butis shown as a forged or cast member with its `outer or exposed facesuitably ornamented,

if desired, as shown at 1l.. lhisornamentaw tion 1n many casesisofsuchform as to `enablethe closurepto be attached in several definite`positions orin one particular posi tionin whichthe design willstandupright.

The design:7 forexampla may be of arrow form, theintention being to haveit point t upwardly,"or itmight be a human figure,"etc.

The llocking means on the `rearoifthe closure is thereforefnot onlydesigned to cooperate with theloclring tongues 6 but of such form asteenable the `closure to be attached theretointhe desiredpositionorpositions.` In the particular `formshewn the design 11 is four-"pointedfso "that the closuremaybe applied 'jin'fourjditerent positions.It lis provided onfits rear face with'resilient locking fingers ortongues, ,which in this case form part ofpa {disctor'pplatel of moreior`less inherently resilient or spring metal, generally of circular formand lyin'g within a shallow annular flange 13 of the closure. The discis provided with a central securing portion suitably attached to thebody member at or near its center, such as by the rivets 14. Said discalso is provided with a series, four being shown, of radially extendinglocking arms having outwardlyA bent fingers or tangues 15, attached tothe body of the disc 'at 16 and sheared therefrom along three edges 15,15", 15. Viewing one of said tongues endwise or as'shown in Fig. 8, itisarched or crowned. Inapplying the closure B to the member A, three ofsaid tongues enter and become releasably locked to the tongues 6, theremainingtongue 15 being idle. Not only may the metal of they tongues beinherently resilient, but the disc as a .whole is formed to provideadditional resiliency. As shown, the disc is provided at its peripherywith a flange 17 extending continuously around its circumference, and itis also slotted radially at intervals, as at 18`. This'forms a series ofoutwardly extending arms on the spring disc, eight such arms beingshown, one lying betwen each two adjacent slots 18. Those arms which.carry tongues 15 are shearedaway fromthe yannular flange 17 as shown'at19,'Fig. 6, while the intervening arms are fast with the annularpflange,as shown in Fig. 4. The tongue carrying arms 20 are fastened tothe bodymetal 10, as by brazing, soldering or spot welding, so that `they. arenot resilient or, in other words, they s are rigid and do not bendor'flex.

VTheannular flange 17 may be an integral part of the disc or may be aseparate ring se- Y cured at four places to the outer endsof theintervening flexing arms21. In either case' `said intervening `arms arebent :outwardly from the plane of the disc sufficiently to give them apermanent set, so that when the cap or closure is removed from theydevice to be closed the ring 17 extends outwardly there- In applying theclosure to the part to be closed itis pushed into its seat within thebead 4 and-the flange 17 meets the surface 5.

.By pushing in on the closure the ring Y17 is pushed in toward the faceyof the closure and K. i the swinging motion of the flexing arms 21 theIopenings Gaf to theY la closing member for said op definite interlockwhen the parts are rotated to final position.

This closure is of very simple and compart form and can be applied inany place where space is limited, particularly depth.

What I claim is:

1. A closure, comprising a body member and a lockinor member carriedthereby, said locking member having a central portion for securement tosaid body member, a plurality of radially extending locking arms eachhaving locking means, and aplurality of radially extending flexing armsof resilient material, said locking arms and said flexing armsbeing-arranged in alternate relation about said central securingportion. v

2. A closure as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said flexingarms are connected by a continuous ring.

3. A closure as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that saidlocking` arms normally lie against said body member and in that saidflexing arms diverge therefrom.

4.-. A closure, comprising a body member y anda locking member carriedthereby, said locking member having a central portion for securement tosaid-body member, a plurality of radially extending locking arms eachhaving locking means, anda plurality of radially extending flexing arms'of resilient material, said locking arms and said flexing arms beingarranged in alternate'relation about said central securing portion andsaid flexing arms being connected at their outer ends by a continuousring.

A5. In a structureof the character described, the combination of a parthaving an opening to beclosed and provided with locking means,

a one-piece closing member for said opening provided with a resilientlymounted ring adapted for movement toward andfrom said member andprovided with locking means for cooperation with the locking means ofsaid art.

characterized in that the locking means of said part andy said closingVmember are tongues.

7. In a structure of the character described, A

the combination of a part having an opening to, be closed and providedwith locking means, ening having a body portion Vand a resilientymounted rino `adapted for movement toward and from sai body portion,said closing member being also provided with locking-means forcooperation .With the; locking means of said part.

8. A- combination as set forth in claim 7,

characterized in thatthe locking means ofsaid vclosing memberyare-integralv with the. bodyy portion thereof. y

9. yIn astructure of the character described, the combination of a partprovided `with an [annular beadwithin which isa plane surface` providedVwith an opening to be closed,

6. A combination as vset forthiin lclaim 5,f

tongues raised from said surface Within said bead, a closure provided onone face With a i shallow recess, and a plurality of locking `tonguesWithin said recess for cooperation y y 5 with the tongues of said part,whereby said closure may be secured to said part in closing position`relativeto the opening of the latter. 10. A combinationias set forth inclaim 9,

characterized in that said closure is pro- 1"() vided Within said recessWith a plurality of outwardly extending resilient arms which normallyresist seating movement of said closure on said part. l l

` ll.`In a structure of the character de- 15 scribed, the combination ofa part provided With an annular bead Within which is aplane y surfaceprovided with an opening to be closed,

tongues raised from said surface Within said bead,` a closure providedon one face with a 2Q shallow recess and with a plurality of locking 2Uarms.

`tongues Within said recess for cooperation With the tongues of saidpart, Wherebysaid closure may be securedto said part in closing positionrelative to the opening of the latter, said closure being also providedwith a plurality of `outwardly extending resilient arms Which normallyresist seating movement of said closure on said part and with a resi1-ient ring connecting the outer ends of said In testimony `whereof` I`hereby ax my signature.

JAMES S. REID.

